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Aravindh Chithambaram: Chess Moves

Helping a promising youth with limited resources achieve international recognition by funding initial professional development

Rajan Ayyappan

Sports

Millburn, New Jersey

United States

4 Team Members

Campaign Summary

This campaign is for raising money to fund travel and other expenses for 14-year old Aravindh necessary to put him on a fast-track to world recognition in chess.

Aravindh started playing chess when he was 7 years old. But his opening moves were already decided for him when he lost his father at the age of 3. Born into a family with limited economic means in a town past its golden age, Aravindh moved to Chennai and has already got his first GM norm using limited government sponsorship and substantial training support from GM Ramesh from Chess Gurukul.

Aravindh has great potential to become a world-class Chess player within a year or so. This can only happen if he plays at matches at locations around the world stretching his mental muscles.

This campaign will help him participate in matches abroad and bring great laurels to Chennai and India, following in the footsteps of Viswanathan Anand.

The Newest Star

The 2014 Program

GM Ramesh has identified three potential chess tournaments which Aravindh could attend in the next 6 months. These are in Iceland, Germany and Thailand.

Participation in these matches would involve international flights and over 30 days of stay abroad. This means we would have to buy flight tickets, make boarding and lodging arrangements, have money for local travel expenses and advanced training material. We also need to take extra care in making these arrangements given the fact Aravindh is not an adult.

The airfares and other travel expenses would come to over $ 7,000. Campaign costs, match fees etc. would bring the total to about $ 8,000.

What You Get

Assuming we reach the funding goal, Aravindh will be able to attend the three tournaments we have identified and stands a very good chance of becoming one of the youngest Grand Masters India has ever produced.

If we do not meet the goal, Aravindh would be able to attend fewer matches but would ultimately become a GM maybe a year or two later. Unless he changes path due to economic hardship.

If we see great support and exceed the goal, Aravindh would be delighted and you would see him at more events during 2014 and aim for even greater heights.

In all cases, you would get perks for your contribution, like heart-felt thank you notes and signed chess boards etc. from Aravindh as detailed in the Perks area. Note: Specifications for all perks will be decided based upon cost and delivery factors, to ensure reasonable amount is available to Aravindh, which is the main cause.

The greatest perk from making a contribution here will be the happy knowledge that you are enabling an opportunity to a young boy to dream big and work hard to realize it, and make the chess community proud, both in India and abroad!

Other Ways You Can Help

If, for any reason, you are not able to make a financial contribution, it would be entirely understandable. In that case, it would be nice if you are able to share information about this campaign in your social network sites or other circles and communities.

Also please check out my blog post here to learn about how it all started.

Life has made the first few moves for Aravindh. Let us help him make the next moves his best!

Flexible FundingThis campaign has ended and will receive all funds raised.

Campaign Closed

This campaign ended on January 31, 2014

Select a Perk

$5USD

Thank You Note

A digital version of Thank You note from Aravindh, specifically meant for you delivered to your email address.

11
claimed

Estimated delivery: March 2014

$10USD

Thank You Card

A printed Thank You note signed by Aravindh mailed to your address. Please provide complete and accurate mailing address to receive the card.

24
claimed

Estimated delivery: March 2014

$25USD

Chess Board

A Chess board in one of the standard sizes with Aravindh's autograph mailed to your address along with a Thank You note. Please provide complete and accurate mailing address to receive the board.

29
claimed

Estimated delivery: April 2014

$50USD

A Book on Chess

A chess book recommended and autographed by Aravindh mailed to your address along with a Thank You note. Please provide complete and accurate mailing address to receive the book.

31
claimed

Estimated delivery: April 2014

$100USD

Chess Set

A Chess board in one of the standard sizes *including chessmen* with Aravindh's autograph mailed to your address along with a Thank You note. Please provide complete and accurate mailing address to receive the board.